Among the ways to donate to the American Red Cross found in the Holiday Giving Catalog: Provide one full day of emergency shelter, which includes three meals, two blankets, one cot and personal supplies. The price starts at $50 for one person. (American Red Cross)

The American Red Cross, including its Alabama region,
launched its Holiday Giving Campaign on Monday, outlining ways for people to
help others during the season of giving. The campaign will run through the end
of December.

Various ways of helping include making a financial donation,
giving blood or signing a holiday card for a member of the Armed Forces, the
Red Cross said. The organization is not a federal agency and receives funds
from private donations, the United Way, city and county governments, and grants
and corporate donations.

"Together we can spread hope to those in need – victims of
disaster, hospital patients, those in the military," said Chris Osborne, chief
communications officer for the American Red Cross Alabama Region.

Nationally, the Red Cross also released a telephone survey of 1,010 adults conducted earlier this month. In the survey, 78 percent of those who have already given to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts said it would not impact their year-end charitable giving. Ninety percent of those who gave to political causes also said it would not reduce their giving to nonprofits.

Shoppers may support Red Cross programs by purchasing a
variety of symbolic gifts found in the Holiday Giving Catalog. The most popular of these is providing a full day of emergency shelter, which starts at $50 for one person.